Animals
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Oprah Daily, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Economist, Smithsonian Magazine, Prospect (UK), Globe & Mail, Esquire, Mental Floss, Marginalian, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF THE CENTURY The Earth teems with sights and textures, sounds and vibrations, smells and tastes, electric and magnetic fields. But every kind of animal, including humans, is enclosed within its own unique sensory bubble, perceiving but a tiny sliver of our immense world. In An Immense World, Ed Yong coaxes us beyond the confines of our own senses, allowing us to perceive the skeins of scent, waves of electromagnetism, and pulses of pressure that surround us. We encounter beetles that are drawn to fires, turtles that can track the Earth's magnetic fields, fish that fill rivers with electrical messages, and even humans who wield sonar like bats. We discover that a crocodile's scaly face is as sensitive as a lover's fingertips, that the eyes of a giant squid evolved to see sparkling whales, that plants thrum with the inaudible songs of courting bugs, and that even simple scallops have complex vision. We learn what bees see in flowers, what songbirds hear in their tunes, and what dogs smell on the street. We listen to stories of pivotal discoveries in the field, while looking ahead at the many mysteries that remain unsolved. Funny, rigorous, and suffused with the joy of discovery, An Immense World takes us on what Marcel Proust called "the only true voyage . . . not to visit strange lands, but to possess other eyes."
WINNER OF THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL - FINALIST FOR THE KIRKUS PRIZE - FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD - LONGLISTED FOR THE PEN/E.O. WILSON AWARD
"Evocative and lyrical."--Publishers Weekly, STARRED review On a small acreage teeming with wild and domestic animals, buzzing with a half-million honeybees, and dotted with fruit trees--including one affectionately named Bill--lives beekeeper-poet Susan Cormier. Circling the farm, an aggressive tangle of forest and blackberry vines thrives, but beyond, the shadow of urban development creeps ever closer. Over five seasons Cormier takes readers through the rhythms of semi-agricultural life, reflecting on the dichotomy between beauty and grief, loss and renewal, and humor and the often heart-wrenching realities of animal existence in an agrarian landscape. Susan's acreage is filled with an ever-changing cast of animals, from the hand-raised quail Birb, who likes to play peekaboo, to companionable cats and dogs, Frodo the rescued rabbit, deer, elusive mink, and owls. Dead Bees Still Sting also offers a rich education in beekeeping, guiding readers through the complexities of hive life, the art of capturing swarms, and the serious challenges facing bees today. Lyrical and poignant, Dead Bees Still Sting is a moving meditation on the cycles of nature, vulnerability, persistence, and survival. Above all, it is a celebration of what it means to belong to a place, to witness its changes, and to find beauty and meaning in the ongoing conversation between humans and nature.
Get Up Close and Personal with Deer, Elk, and Moose
From the Alaskan wilderness to the Florida Keys, Stan Tekiela has spent 30 years in pursuit of deer, elk, and moose in order to study and photograph them. Now, he shares his fascination with these grand and majestic creatures, providing you with a naturalist's point of view. Stan presents the lives of these intriguing mammals through headings and concise blocks of text paired with gorgeous images that only he could capture. Marvel at North America's most amazing animals.
"Unusual and fascinating... Read this book and enter into another world."-- Jane GoodallIn this sensuous and moving memoir, a young man forms a powerful connection with deer while living alone in the woods for seven years.Geoffroy Delorme does not fit in the human world. As a boy, he dreams of transforming into a fox so he can escape into the forest. As he gets older, he disappears into the woods at night, drawn to the rhythms of animal life. One night, an encounter with a deer changes his life: from then on, he knows he wants to live among them. Delorme becomes a creature of the forest. He learns to live without a tent or sleeping bag and forage for whatever food he can find. He blends in with the deer and, slowly, they accept him into their world. He witnesses their births and deaths, courtship and battles, ostracism and friendship over the cycles of their lives. Among the deer, he experiences the beauty, pain, fear, and joy of a life lived as a part of nature, not separate from it.In his final year in the forest, Delorme meets a woman walking through the trees. He knows he can stay in the forest and die with his friends--or he can leave, and speak their truth to a human world that desperately needs to hear it. Deer Man is a moving story of what it's like to be an outsider and how forming connections with the natural world can help us feel less alone. A unique and powerful window into how far one human is willing to go to understand an animal, Deer Man asks us to never take for granted the flora and fauna of our world, and to work for their protection in whatever ways we can.
"There are lots of books about man's best friend, but none as sweet or as beautiful as Dog Show."--Air Mail "The pleasures here are many for Collins fans, dog lovers, and any reader looking for clever, poignant, and spirit-lifting poems accompanied by deft, lively, and affectionate paintings."--Booklist Billy Collins's Dog Show celebrates the joy of our canine best friends, honoring the love we feel for the animals who play such vital roles in our lives. In twenty-five poems, Collins distills the many ways dogs warm our hearts, from the happiness we experience as we watch a dog run unencumbered by our burdens, to the silliness of cradling a dog in our arms as we step on the scale together. Turning his inimitable eye and ear to the complexities of dog behavior, Collins ponders all that these winning creatures give us and what we learn from them about ourselves. For more than four decades Collins has delighted readers with his insight, wit, and clear poetic voice. In Dog Show, "America's favorite poet" (The Wall Street Journal) illuminates America's favorite pet (sorry, cat lovers). Accompanied by Pamela Sztybel's watercolors, which effortlessly depict a dog's humble grace, Dog Show reveals the profound role these majestic animals play in our lives and the meaning they give us.
Get this handy guide to caterpillars found throughout North America, and learn how to identify them.
The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly or moth is one of nature's most amazing wonders. While their transformations into winged pollinators tend to get much of the attention, caterpillars are fascinating and beautiful. Anyone who wants butterflies in their backyard or garden should hope for caterpillars too!
If you see caterpillars in your area, keep this convenient guide close at hand. Designed for ease of use, the booklet is organized by butterfly or moth, then by family. Narrow your choices based on a caterpillar's physical characteristics, and view just a few species at a time to ID the insect--and see what kind of butterfly or moth it becomes. The professional photographs showcase 90 species. You'll also appreciate bonus information, such as caterpillar anatomy and why butterflies and moths are important. Written by acclaimed author and expert entomologist Jaret C. Daniels, Caterpillars of North America presents the most common and important species to know.
Book Features
Improve your identification skills and learn more about caterpillars and the butterflies and moths they become, with this lightweight quick guide.
Get this handy booklet to common bees (and their look-alikes) of the western USA, and learn how to identify them.
Bees are beloved garden visitors and are essential to a healthy ecosystem. We welcome their arrival and celebrate their vital work as pollinators, supporting the growth of flowers, plants, and trees. If you see bees in your area, keep this convenient guide close at hand. Designed for ease of use, the booklet is organized by group for quick identification. Narrow your choices by group, and view just a few bees at a time. The professional photographs showcase more than 170 species--including bee look-alikes, such as beetles, flies, and moths. Written by debut author Ryan Bartlett, founder of the educational organization Colorado Native Bee, Common Native Bees of the Western United States features species found west of the 100th meridian (from western North Dakota down to western Texas and all the way to the Pacific Ocean).
Book Features
Improve your identification skills and learn to make your backyard or garden a welcome place for bees, with this lightweight quick guide.
Learn how to identify spiders found across the United States and Canada with this handy quick guide.
Some people love them, while others fear them. One thing is certain: spiders play an essential part of a healthy ecosystem. They are key predators of insect pests--like fleas and mosquitoes--and they serve as prey for beloved animals, such as birds. If you see spiders in your area, keep this convenient guide close at hand. Designed for ease of use, the spiral-bound booklet is organized by type of spider web for quick identification. Narrow your choices by the web you see, and view just a few spiders at a time. Plus, you'll also find sections for spiders that don't utilize webs. The professional photographs showcase 158 species. Written by debut author Dr. Sebastian Alejandro Echeverri--co-host of the BBC Earth Podcast--the Spiders of the United States & Canada guide features the most common and important species to know.
Book Features
Improve your identification skills and learn more about spiders and their webs, with this lightweight quick guide.